520 
M. H. REYNOLDS. 
\ 
below by the first four cervical vertebras and inferior branch 
of the ilio-spinalis, attached by its postero-superior border to 
the cervical cord and spinous processes of the anterior dorsal 
vertebrae, by its anterior-inferior border, to mastoid crest and 
transverse processes of first five cervical vertebrae except the 
axis. Externallv this muscle is in contact with rhomboideus, 
angularis, trapezius and mastoido-humeral. Internally, with 
both complexus muscles and the great and small oblique 
muscles of the head. Its fibres run parallel with the cervical 
cord. Its nutrition comes through the dorsal, superior cer¬ 
vical and vertebral arteries. Interesting features of this 
blood supply are the several anastomoses which the vertebral 
makes in this region, with the retrograde branch of the occip¬ 
ital muscular, and the middle spinal arteries. The anasto¬ 
moses are essentially responsible for the persistent hemorrha¬ 
ges which we sometimes get when making incisions in the poll- 
evil region. The splenius receives nerve supply through 
both the superficial and deep cervical plexi. 
Great complexus, a very large, strong muscle, placed be¬ 
tween the splenius and lamellar portion of the cervical liga. 
ment. It consists of two fairly distinct portions, which lie side 
by side, and together form an elongated triangle. It covers 
the cervical ligament, the superior portion of the ilio-spinalis, 
the transverse spinous of the neck, the oblique and post 
straight muscles of the head, and it in turn is covered by the 
splenius and small complexus. The anterior portion has, for 
origin, the transverse processes of first and second dorsal and 
the articular tubercles of the cervical vertebras. The poster¬ 
ior portion has its origin on the spinous processes of first four 
dorsal vertebras. Both portions insert on the occiptal tuber¬ 
osity and between them passes the trunk of the superior cer¬ 
vical artery. Fibres of the posterior and larger portion run 
forward and upward nearly parallel with the cervical cord. 
Those of the anterior portion have a direction more nearly 
upward and thus fuse with those of the posterior. Blood 
supply, dorsal, superior cervical and branches from the deep 
cervical plexus. 
The small complexus is also composed of two distinct por- 
